CMYK Sweepstakes machine tax vote in Oxford
Northern Wrestling falls to Chapel Hill
Finding God at Angola, La.
Local News, Page 8A
Sports, Page 1B
Faith, Page 1C SATURDAY, January 9, 2010
Volume XCVI, No. 8
(252) 436-2700
www.hendersondispatch.com
Custody hearing difficult
Old auto dealership on Raleigh Road home to enterprise
Currins will do ‘whatever is right’ for granddaughter
By WILLIAM F. WEST Daily Dispatch Writer
By WILLIAM F. WEST Daily Dispatch Writer
Please see CUSTODY, page 8A
Index Our Hometown . . . . . 2A Business & Farm. . . . 5A Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . 6A Light Side . . . . . . . . . 7A Sports. . . . . . . . . . 1-4B Faith. . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4C Comics . . . . . . . . . . . 5C Classifieds. . . . . . . 6-8C
Daily Dispatch/ASHLEY STEVEN AYSCUE
John R. Lowery Sr., 72, looks away as nurse practitioner Mishew Gardner administers an H1N1 shot at the Vance County Health Department Friday afternoon during a walk-in clinic.
New supplies of flu vaccines ready at health departments By DAVID IRVINE Daily Dispatch Writer
The N.C. Division of Public Health warns that the 2009 H1N1 flu pandemic is not over. In fact, it may be picking up speed. “If typical seasonal flu trends hold true this year, we can anticipate another increase in flu cases this winter and into the spring,” State Epidemiologist Megan Davies said. “H1N1 has been anything but typical, so it is difficult to know how long this pandemic will last.” Supplies of vaccines, which
ran short in the fall, are now available in the area, making it possible for people who missed getting vaccinated earlier to take that important step to protect their health. The Granville-Vance Area District Health Department offers flu vaccination clinics each Friday from 1 to 4 p.m. Both H1N1 vaccine and seasonal flu vaccine are available. The vaccinations may be obtained at either of the department’s facilities — 101 Hunt Drive in Oxford or 115 Charles D. Rollins Road in Henderson.
Health Director Dr. Roddy Drake says that both vaccines are recommended for anyone 6 months of age and older. Earlier guidelines restricting vaccines to priority groups have been discontinued. The flu mist is also available for healthy individuals 2 to 49 years of age. Drake added that a person, whose schedule makes a Friday afternoon visit to the flu clinic impossible, may come in at another time. “We don’t turn anyone away,” Please see VACCINES, page 4A
Slipin’ and slidin’ through the Tri-County area
Today Mostly sunny
High: 34 Low: 19
Sunny
High: 35 Low: 17
Details, 3A
Deaths Clarksville, Va. Jackie R. Terry, 53 Far Rockaway, N.Y. Charles Boben, 86 Henderson William J. Arnold, 71 Edith B. South, 91 Newport News, Va. Callie E. Mitchell, 75 Oxford Stuart Vaughan, 73 Warrenton Sarah F. Neal, 64 Washington, D.C. Bernard Bullock, 53 Wise Blanca Cervantes, 28
Obituaries, 4A
A Vance County man plans to open a sports bar and lounge at 419 Raleigh Road. “This has been in the works for quite a while,” Danny Charles Finch Jr. told the Zoning Board of Adjustment in successfully obtaining a special use permit for the business, which will be at what was Alliance Supercenter. “We’re trying to make a community felt place, where you can still relax, get away from the day, get away from the week,” Finch said. “It’s going to be somewhere for you to go sit back, have a beverage, have something to eat, play a couple of games, talk to people.” Finch said plans include bringing in national recording artists and having outdoor festivals. Standing alongside Finch was Phillip Hill, of Warren County and who additionally will be involved in operating the business. Finch, under questioning from the Board of Adjustment, said a former local law enforcement officer will be head of security. Additionally, Finch said he and Hill will provide security and are planning to hire at least two more security guards, each of whom would rotate in and out. On weekends and when there is potentially a packed house, all Please see BAR, page 3A
Weather
Sunday
50 cents
Sports bar gets permit
Pat and Juanita Currin
OXFORD — Pat Currin said that for he and his wife, Juanita, testifying on the witness stand to obtain full custody of 6-year-old Haley Morris was a hard experience. But, Pat Currin said that, “We absolutely felt that we were doing what we have to do for the child. And that’s what we’re committed to do, whatever is right for her.” The couple Thursday received complete responsibility for the child, who is the daughter of Pat Currin’s slain daughter, Kelly Currin Morris. Juanita Currin is Kelly Currin Morris’ stepmother. The couple had obtained emergency custody of the child before her father, Scott Morris, was booked and jailed Nov. 17 on a
Daily Dispatch/WILLIAM F. WEST
Authorities were responding to automobile wrecks as a result of icy conditions in the Tri-County area, including this accident Friday morning along U.S. 158/Oxford Loop near the intersection of Salem Road, above. The state Highway Patrol said Nora Towler was driving the 1996 Chevrolet Blazer west when she lost control and the vehicle overturned. Towler, 55, of 5517 Antioch Road, Oxford, was not charged with any offense and sustained only minor injuries. At right, a North Carolina Department of Transportation truck spreads a mixture of sand and salt on the road surface as it travels along Coopers Grove Road around 8:30 a.m. Friday. School was delayed for two hours after a winter storm moved through the area dropping a hint of snow and a little rain causing a few slick spots for morning travelers.
By DISPATCH STAFF
Daily Dispatch/ASHLEY STEVEN AYSCUE
Eat Smart, Move More challenge begins next week From STAFF REPORTS
The second annual Weight Loss Challenge has been announced by Eat Smart, Move More (ESMM) of GranvilleVance. Participation in the program can help people with good intentions but wavering determination stay true to their New Year resolutions. The 10-week program begins with a weigh-in during the week
of Jan. 11-15. It ends with a weigh-out during the week of March 22-26. To be eligible for prizes, participants must weigh in at an official site and weigh out at the same site. Registration packets may be picked up until Jan. 15 at any of the following sites: • Granville County Health Department, 101 Hunt Drive, Oxford. • Vance County Health De-
Arrest on drugs charges
partment, 115 Charles D. Rollins Road, Henderson. • Front desk, Granville Medical Center, 1010 College St., Oxford. • Front desk, South Granville Medical Center, 1614 N. Hwy. 56, Creedmoor. • Front desk, Maria Parham Medical Center, 566 Ruin Creek Road, Henderson. Please see CHALLENGE, page 8A
A 29-year-old Henderson man has been arrested during an investigation of drug trafficking in the 400 block of John Street. According to police, after a foot chase a suspect was detained. A search of the suspect turned up an amount of heroin. In connection with the investigation, the Henderson Police Department Narcotics Unit charged Justin Rashad Williams of 1114 Washington St. with: • Possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver heroin. • Manufacture of heroin. • Assault on a government official. • Resisting, delaying and obstructing a law enforcement officer. Williams is being held in the Vance County jail in lieu of $30,000 bond, pending a hearing Feb. 15 in Vance County District Court. The investigation was initiated after citizens complained of drug activity, police said. Send comments to news@hendersondispatch.com.